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Polls favour Arroyo
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A RECENT survey shows that 53 per cent of Filipinos, especially in Metro Manila, favour the replacement of deposed President Joseph Estrada by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Only nine per cent of the respondents from all classes of society are convinced that Arroyo “has no right" to take over as president, the Manila Times newspaper reported yesterday.
The Social Weather Stations, a well-known local pollster which conducted the survey on January 27 by interviewing 300 adults in Metro Manila, said the result indicated that more than a week after taking over as president, Arroyo has begun to enjoy a wide public support.
Arroyo came to power on January 20 in a military-backed popular uprising that toppled corruption-tainted Estrada.
Estrada defiantly insisted on Wednesday he was still president and said his successor Arroyo would have to make way for him if and when he decides to return.
In his first public appearance 11 days after a military-backed popular revolt ended his 30-month-old rule, Estrada rejected calls for his banishment and vowed to take legal steps to shore up the legitimacy of his claim.
Estrada insisted his successor “is still the vice president. The appointments she made are all temporary."
Estrada vowed to “pursue justice" to spare the country “a legacy of a banana republic where presidents are changed on the basis of a coup d'etat or a withdrawal of support by the military".
He said he would resort to “peaceful, legal and non-violent means" and ruled out using “acts of destabilization". (SD-Agencies)
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